River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-16


hand, went to theatricals, costum.
er's. and, saying | intended 10 take
part in some private theatrical, hired
the costume Of a French able. on
was a part / had often played In a
piece that had pretty long run in
London some eight years ago, and !
had little doubt that / would be able
to acquit myself in it fairly well.) /
got the proper dress. wig, powder, and
everything complete, and. having put
all the articles into my bag, 1 went
to one of the railway stations and took
a return ticket for station little way
out in the country.
TO nay disgust found it impossible
TO get compartment to myself. the
train was too crowded; but ! reflected
that the trains returning to Paris
would probably be much less crowded
in the afternoon than those going into
the country.
IN this suppOsition | was right
hung about the suburban railway sta
ton till a return train was about to
start. Ii was nearly empty, and a dou-
ccur to the guard secured me the pri-
vacy needed By the time / returned
TO Paris | was a stout, benevolent-look-
ing French priest i'm comfortable cir
cumstances. Ny suit of tweeds / had
placed in my bag, which took care to
leave at the railway station. Then !
made the best of my way to the Hotel
Continental.
II was Just IN time for the table
d hote, and as | took my seat | noticed
with great satisfaction that my trans
atlantic friend was sitting not very far
of, and that he had not suspicion OF
my identity. Nothing, | knew, could
be done until after dinner. so / waited
through the tedious procession of
courses Is patiently as could, and
when AT last they came 10 an end fol-
lowed the American and little group of
men who surrounded him to the smOK-
ing-rOom. 1t was not exactly the place
Tor priest. but | could not help that.
Il sat down by little round table
near the American, but slightly behind
him, so as to be able TO hear the con-
yersation without joining in it unless
| wished. From time to time | offered
a remark speaking, of course.in French
to the man who sat next me. but for
the most part | smoked my cigar and
slipped my coffee in silence.
AS 1 expected. it was not long be-
fore diamonds became the subject of
conversation.
II don't know much about diamonds
myself. said the American. speaking in
his native tongue, hut I'm told by
good iGdges that thar's abont as good
u stone as YOU Il see any where around
almost exactly the phrases. l said TO
myself. that the fellow used to me at
NiceD
You kin take a look at it. he added,
carelessly. drawing of the ring and
handing it TO one of the group. | bent
forward so rs 10 see more clearly what
was going on. One after another the
men who We're sitting near examined
and admired the ring. The man next
TO me was the last 10 look ~ it.
"A friend hey at Buenos Ayres
sent it TO me, and l had il cut myself,
said the American.
At this point / noticed that my
neighbor had finished his examination
of the diamond. and touched him. in
timating that |. too, would like to have
a look AZ a. He handed il to me ~ =
matter of course.
1t was the very ring which had
been exhibited in the same way at Nice.
had the imitation one which had been
palmed of upon me ready in my hand,
and, under pretcnse Of trying the effect
of the gem on my finger, easily sub
stitufcd tie one for the other. Slipped
the false ring on my finger. admired it
as in duty bound. and then, pulling it
of. handed it back to my neither, who
in turn gave it TO the American.
y put the real diamond which had
secured into my pocket. and finished
my coffee hastily, just rs Brother John
than was making an appointment
with a rich young Frenchman 10 meet
ut the shop Of "a fashionable jewelcr
next morning and take his opinion on
the value oil the gem.
!. And Since ii has taken your fancy,
said the unsuspicious American, you
shall hey il for the same sum the jewel
er offers me for it. / can't say fairer
than that. now, can II
| went back TO the railway station,
got my bag. changed my hat and coat
in the waiting-roOm, Slipped into the
hotel. and rext day set off for Cannes.
My only regret was that was I'M
able to make a study Of the Americans
face when the Paris jeweler put a price
one the beautiful diamond next morn
ing.